because of COVID-19? Are your students informed about compensation, hours and requirements of various work settings, etc.? Are your students proficient in technology they may need as they begin their career? Key Findings: · Because of COVID-19, upwards of 86% of therapists ceased working at some point during 2020, but as of November 2020, 79% of therapists were working. · Therapists are changing their business practices because of COVID-19, such as spending more time cleaning and sanitizing their offices and treatment rooms. · Most massage therapists are women, have some college experience and previously worked in another profession. · Average gross annual income from massage therapy increased slightly in 2019 (as reported in 2020). This will likely decline because of COVID-19 when numbers are reported next year. · Referrals from current clients continue to be the most prevalent way consumers find massage therapists. These questions will be answered: 2A. How has COVID-19 impacted the massage profession? 2B. Who is practicing massage therapy? 2C. How much are massage therapists compensated for their work? 2D. What are some of the benefits available to massage therapists? 2E. Where are massage therapists practicing? 2F. How are therapists using technology in their practice? 2G. What’s the latest on the spa industry and massage therapy? 2H. What impact are national massage chains having on the profession? 22 2A. How has COVID-19 impacted the massage profession? COVID-19 had impacted therapists and led to changes in business practice. The COVID-19 crisis has shaken up the massage profession. As of April 2020, 86% of massage therapists have stated that they have stopped practicing.8 By November, 2020, roughly 79% of therapists had stated they were back at work. Numbers do vary greatly state by state, as some areas of the country have more stringent or looser practice regulations because of COVID-19. In some states, upwards of 90% of therapists may be working, and in others it is less than 50%. As some therapists have ceased working, 16% have taken a job outside of massage. However, only about 1% of therapists do not see themselves practicing in the future. Therapists are also seeing fewer clients on a weekly basis, only seeing about 65% of clients in an average week that they had seen pre-COVID. Because of COVID-19, therapists are also changing their work practices; see figure 10 for detail on what changes therapists are making at their practices or in their place of employment. Wearing a mask to provide massage 87% More thorough cleaning/sanitation procedures 84% Requiring clients to wear masks for massage 68% Updating intake forms for clients asking about symptoms of COVID 65% Longer times between clients 63% Accepting fewer clients per day 53% Requesting clients wait in their cars or outside the facility if they arrive early 42% to an appointment Using contactless or digital payment methods 27% Altered massage modalities/techniques to require less touch or avoid certain 19% areas of the body Using digital intake forms instead of paper 18% Changing work settings or venue where I provide massage 14% Wearing gloves to provide massage 10% Switching to disposable table coverings 9% 23 Figure 10. Percent of therapists that are making specific practice changes because of COVID-19 Highlights from Figure 10 The vast majority of therapists are wearing a mask during massage sessions and doing more thorough cleaning/sanitation practices because of COVID-19. Along with changes in business practices, COVID-19 has also led to therapists to purchase additional supplies. See figure 11 for the percent of therapists that are buying specific supplies because of COVID-19. Face masks 82% Cleaning products 82% Hand sanitizer 81% Additional table linens or coverings 48% Air purification systems 42% Gloves 38% Face shields 32% Table guards 29% Additional massage tables or other 7% furniture Figure 11. Percent of therapists that are making specific supply purchases because of COVID-19 Highlights from Figure 11 Facemasks, cleaning products and hand sanitizer are being purchased by the majority of therapists because of COVID-19. 24 2B. Who is practicing massage therapy? Over the last decade, the number of massage therapists increased by 19%. According to the 2020 AMTA Industry Survey, massage therapists in the U.S. are: · Mostly female — Eighty-eight percent of massage therapists identified as female. · Educated — Forty-one percent of massage therapists have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher and 90% have achieved formal education levels above a high school diploma or GED. (See Figure 12) 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Education (Non-Massage) High school grad or less 10% 10% 12% 10% 10% Some college 24 26 23 21 22 Associate’s Degree 19 18 19 20 19 Technical/vocational certificate 10 10 11 11 7 Bachelor’s degree 28 27 29 27 30 Master’s degree 8 8 6 8 10 Doctorate 1 2 1 2 1 Figure 12. Massage therapists’ education Highlights from Figure 12 41% of massage therapists have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. 90% of massage therapists have formal education beyond the high school level. 25 Most massage therapists are coming from another profession · Therapists working as full-time employees are more likely to enter massage therapy as their first